Mansplain

The word “mansplain” can been traced to Rebecca Solnit, a writer whose 2008 essay “Men Explain Things to Me” laid out the mansplaining fundamentals (though the actual term only began croppping up on feminist blogs months later). In its early incarnation, it had a straightforward definition: when a man condescendingly lectures a woman on the basics of a topic about which he knows very little, under the mistaken assumption that she knows even less. In the piece, Solnit describes attending a party at which an oblivious male, “eyes fixed on the fuzzy far horizon of his own authority,” patronizingly attempts to tell her all about a new book on the photographer Eadweard Muybridge, which it turns out Solnit actually wrote. This all-too-typical experience of being unthinkingly talked down to, she writes, “trains women in self-doubt and self-limitation just as it exercises men’s unsupported overconfidence.”

He mansplained the new book to her at the launch party, not knowing that she was the author.

by LemonyElmony August 24, 2017

Mansplain

To no fault of either gender, the entire concept is simply a misunderstanding of men, most likely due to the accommodation for sensitivity being a relatively subconscious act on the part of women (reducing in-group conflict), something otherwise subverted among males through mutual mockery, etc.

As males tend to be more "aggressive", including how they cope with their ego's, a social divide in speech among men and women becomes apparent, such as women often reading between the lines, unlike men.

When an individual of "male stature" (not specific to a gender) speaks casually in a "masculine" manner; making no attempt to be sensitive, comforting or discreet (typical of the male psyche). Women may confuse this apathy with a sinister driven insult, when in fact the identified "insult" was void of intent & a result of unresolved insecurity among the recipient.

>Fallacious use of the term;
The word "mansplain" is now recently used to insult any male perspective that doesn't agree with ones agenda or deflect attention from ones failure to provide counterargument against a figure or argument deemed male/patriarchal

mansplaining: "hey don't forget my potatoes, they need to be fresh"(could be received as a condescending remark to a female as an attempt to imply poor memory and lack of common sense, rather than the simple request it is)
womensplaining: "just as long as we have some fresh potatoes"(the same concept but less confrontational and more of an insinuation than a request)

>Fallacious use of the term;
Anonymous John Doe: "if you're really a feminist you'd be trying to help real oppressed women in 3rd world countries"
triggered snowflake: "You pathetic shitlord, i don't have time for your mansplaining!" *exists abruptly* &/or *blocks user*

by mechanikilla November 27, 2016

Mansplain

To explain (something) condescendingly (to a female listener), especially to explain something the listener already knows, presuming that she has an inferior understanding of it merely because she is female.

Female gardener: I like to grow lettuce

Guy: You probably didn't know this but lettuce and cabbage are actually 2 different things

Female gardener: Why would you mansplain this to me, a gardener.

by Fredman14 June 30, 2017

Mansplain

When a man comments on a woman's subject, in what he thinks is a knowledgeable way. The man may even argue that their point is the right point.

The girls and I were taking about body acceptance when Don jumped in and tried to mansplain it.

by jetjetvictoria June 30, 2017

Mansplain

The habit some men have of making a "well, actually" statement then re-explaining an explanation a woman has just given, adding nothing new or different to the explanation, and in fact frequently adding incorrect information.

This tends to happen a lot on subjects men consider "manly".

Eric tried Mansplaining to Sharon, who has a Ph.d on the subject, because women don't know more than men about anything, ever.
Example: Water is wet.

Well actually, hot water is also wet. In fact, it even feels wetter.

by WomanAmused August 10, 2017

Mansplain

Mansplain (verb): When a man attempts to explain something to a woman in an authoritative and condescending manner, even though what is being is explained is already understood by that woman as a result of her professional expertise and/or lived experiences, due to a sexist belief that a woman always needs to be told by man how something really works, or in an attempt to undermine the seriousness of sexist behavior and reinforce male authority.

As in, “He mansplained the pain of child birth as beautiful to my sister who had just given birth to her daughter.”

Or, “Most of the Urban Dictionary definitions for mansplain are clear attempts to mansplain away a sexist way of talking to women and sexism in general."

by Chris inCO October 21, 2017

Mansplain

(Of a man) To explain something to a woman in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing. What sets mansplaining apart from a man simply explaining something or giving an opinion is that the mansplainer typically has less knowledge of the topic than the party he is explaining it to, but has assumed that because she is female she cannot comprehend the topic as well as a man could.

Exampes of what is NOT mansplaining:

1) A man explaining how to use a power tool to a woman who needs help using it.
2) A man expressing an opinion on a subjective topic or engaging in a debate with a woman about a topic about which they have similar levels of knowledge

Examples of what IS manplaining:

1) A man who has no formal knowledge of automobile repairs explaining to his female mechanic how an engine works.

2) A man who has never studied gynecology explaining to a woman how she should feel when she is on her period.

Female physicist: "I was giving a lecture on Thermodynamics at the university, and afterwards this guy who had taken one class on the subject pulled me aside and tried to mansplain my own theories to me."

by CrayolaCastle October 15, 2017